3D-Skeleton of a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

This harbour porpoise was found dead on the North Sea coast. It was collected and transferred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (ULiège). Before necropsy by the veterinary team, we wanted a closer look at the animal skeleton in order to highlight the different adaptations (flippers, nares position, elongated skull, cervical vertebrae, etc.) to their peculiar way of life. And therefore we asked for a CT scan.
A µCT scan, also known as computed tomography scan, makes use of computer-processed combinations of many X-ray measurements taken from different angles to produce cross-sectional images (virtual “slices”) of specific areas of a object, allowing the user to see inside the object without cutting. Once we have acquired the slices, the aim of the game was to re-construct the “saucisson”. Hence, we have added colours to different bones to underline the different units that form the skeleton.

3D reconstruction which was realised by S. Braine under the scientific supervision of Prof. E. Parmentier and Dr. K. Das (Faculty of Science, University of Liège).